Massaging device



Sept. 9, 1941. v G. A. SMITH 2,255,684

sets-Sheet l Sept. 9, 1941. G. A. SMlTH MASSAGING DEVICE Filed Feb. 4,1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

Sept. 9, 1941. G A. SMITH 2,255,684

MASSAGING DEVICE Filed Feb. 4, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 N TOR.

' a L /M MiORNEY.

Patented Sept. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE MASSAGING DEVICEGeorge A. Smith, Baltimore, Md. Application February 4, 1939, Serial No.254,551

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a massaging apparatus and more particularly toa massaging apparatus in which a vacuum or suction is used as themassaging agent, this vacuum or suction being either manually orautomatically controlled. The principal object of the invention is toprovide an improved form of massage apparatus of the type specified inwhich means is provided for automatically controlling the vacuum orsuction effect when the device is being operated on the face or body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device so controlledthat the skin of the face or body will be drawn into and released fromthe massaging head intermittingly so as to give a slapping effect to theskin.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device in whichthe degree of suction may be regulated in order to draw the skin intothe massaging head with exactly the proper force.

The invention consistsof the novel construction and arrangement of theparts and combination of parts hereinafter more fully set forth in thefollowing specification and pointed out in detail in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section of Figure 1 on the line 5-5.

Figure 6 is a section of Figure 1 on the line 6B.

Figure 7 is a bottom view of Figure 1 with the massaging head removedtherefrom.

Figure 8 is a plan View of the revolving valve.

Figure 9 is a side view of the rubber massaging head.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of Figure 10.

Figure 11 is a modification showing a single massaging head.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, and in which like reference numerals designate like partsthrough the several views thereof, 20 is a body provided with a handle2| which is connected to any suitable suction-producing mechanism. Thishandle 2| is made detachable and is fitted so that when detached, thesame coupling will fit the body 20 in place of the handle. This is sothat the apparatus may be used either with or moment. The body 20 has apassage 22 at one side communicating with said handle and with thevacuum chamber 23. Above the vacuum chamber 23, the body is providedwith a chamber 24 in which is revolubly mounted a fan 25. The chamber 24is connected with the passage 23 by means of the small pipe 26. Betweenthe passage 23 and the small pipe 26 is a cylinder 21 in which isslidably mounted a valve 28 having anumber of ports 29 therethrough ofvarious sizes which control communication between the chamber 24 and thepassage 22. On the opposite side of the body 29 is a projection 30having an opening 3| communicating with the chamber 24 through which airis drawn by the action of the suction through the small pipe 26 and thepassage 22. As the air is drawn through the opening 3| by the action ofthe suction just described, the fan 25 will be revolved and the speed ofthe revolution is controlled by the valve 28. On the lower end of thefan shaft 32 is rigidly mounted a valve 33 having a number ofdownwardly-projecting lugs 34, each having a slot 35 adapted to registerwith .the apertures 36 in the fingers 31 of the head 38 as the saidvalve 33 is revolved by the action of the fan 25. The body 20, near itslower end, is screw-threaded on its inner surface to receive thescrew-threaded plate 39 which holds the parts securely in position insaid body. This plate 39 is provided with apertures 40 directly belowsimilar apertures in the bottom of the suction chamber 23 which alsoregister with the apertures 36 in the head 38. The fingers 37 are eachformed with a cup 4| at its lower end in which the apertures 36terminate. The head 38 is made of rubber or other suitable material andthe fingers 31 are pliable enough to permit the vacuum cups 4| to adaptthemselves to the contour of the face or body on which the device isbeing used. The cups, forming the bottom of this head, could be arrangedall in one plane as shown, or slightly concave or cup-shaped as shown bythe dotted line in Figure 4. These fingers 31 may also be provided withcoiled springs 42 to reinforce them and prevent their collapsing. Thehead 38 is held in position by the ring 45. When the device is in use,the vacuum cups 4| are placed against the face or body and thesuction-producing mechanism started, which causes the suction to drawthe air through the opening 3| to the fan chamber and revolve the fanwhich carries with itthe valve 33 and as the apertures 35 come in linesuccessively with the apertures 36, the flesh will without the handle,whichever is desired at the be drawn up into the vacuum cups 4| andreleased when the apertures 35 pass the apertures 36, which action iscontinuously repeated as the valve 33 revolves. 'In the presentinstance, the suction will be created in three of the vacuum cups at atime and as the lugs 34 pass over the apertures in the plate 39, theflesh will be released from the cups by the air in the chamber 43 whichcomes in through the aperture 44. As the valve 33 revolves, there is acontinuous drawing in and releasing ofthe flesh, causing a sort ofslapping and stimulating efiect. I

In Figure 11 of the drawings, I have shown a modification in which onlyone vacuum cup 43:

is employed but which is operated to produce the same effect as thatdescribed for Figures" Having thus described my invention, what claimis: Y

1. A massaging device comprising a body having an opening at one endadapted to be connected with a suitable suctionv-producing mechanism', avacuum chamber within-said. body communicating with said opening andhaving a numberxof ports'in its lower surface; a fan chainbe'r ,withinsaid body above the said vacuum chamber and having communication withsaid vacuum chamber. and. an. opening; leading. to

the -atmosphere, a valve to control the amount valvetherein,.amotorconnected withsaidvalve,

a suction cup or series. of 'cups'connect'edt with said body andcommunicating through the valve With .-a couplingv for attachingv it toa 'suc'tionconnected with a suitable suction-producing.

mechanism, said valve casing having ports extending through oppositesides thereof in line with each other, a Vacuum chamber, a fan chamberhaving communication with the vacuum chamber and an opening to theatmosphere, a fan mounted in said fan chamber, a valve to control theamount of suction from the vacuum chamber to the fan chamber, amassaging head removably secured to one side of said valve chamber andcommunicating therewith, and a valve operatively mounted in said valvecasing and having. a port. therein and adapted to control phere, a;valve having. a number of varying-sized ports therein to control the.amount of. suction from the vacuum-chamber to the valve. chamber, a fanmounted in said fan chamber and having its shaft projecting belowthevacuum chamber, a valve rigidly mounted: on'the lower endof said fanshaft and having ports adapted to register with the portsin the lowersurface of the vacuum chamber, amassaging head secured to the lower end.of: said body and having a. number of suction cups on its lower end eachcommunicating with the ports in the said valve and the ports:

in the suction chamber.

GEORGE A. SMITH.

